Charting the physiological time course of help-seeking during late childhood: Patterns of individual difference

Reout Arbel, Patricia A. Smiley, Jessica L. Borelli

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In this study, we explored whether variability in children's physiological reactivity—respiratory sinus arrhythmia and electrodermal activity—predict concurrent and subsequent levels of children's observed help-seeking (HS) from their mothers during a failure task. In addition, we tested whether children's perceptions of maternal positivity pre-task (CPMP) and children's fearful temperament moderate these effects. In a community sample of 101 mother–child dyads, children (8–12 years of age) underwent a repeated failure task while their respiratory sinus arrythmia and electrodermal activity were monitored; their HS behaviors were later coded. Multilevel path analyses indicated that high-fearful children increased their HS at the same time as and following increased physiological reactivity regardless of CPMP pre-task. Low-fearful children showed increases in HS at the same time as and following increased physiological reactivity only when they perceived their mothers’ affect to be positive. This study demonstrates children's individual differences in the physiological underpinning of time-linked HS behaviors.

Original languageEnglish
Article number104989
Pages (from-to)104989
JournalJournal of Experimental Child Psychology
Volume201
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier Inc.

Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Electrodermal activity
  • Help-seeking
  • Mother–child relationship
  • Respiratory sinus arrhythmia
  • Temperament
  • late childhood
  • Help-Seeking Behavior
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mother-Child Relations/psychology
  • Mothers/psychology
  • Fear
  • Child Behavior
  • Individuality
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Child
  • Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia/physiology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology

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